Million-Dollar Idea

Community Radio Madanpokhara (CRM), the first community radio station in South Asia, has become a milestone for the sustainability of a radio station based on a simple suggestion from an old man living in poverty.

CMS was seeking a practical way to increase local participation in the continued service of a local community radio and reached out to communities requesting their participation and contributions to the programme. Mr. Som Nath Aryal, coordinator of the station, setup meetings in 23 villages and asked villagers for their suggestions on ways that they might contribute to the station. Many suggestions were made but one in particular caught Aryal's attention.


Mr. Aryal requested an old man, Tuk Lal Khati, to speak up at which point Khati said "many suggestions have already come from educated people. How can an old and uneducated man give a
suggestion!" According to the article, as Mr. Aryal was encouraging him to speak up by offering Khati a story about an old lady, whose one sentence had changed the destination of a business man. Khati interrupted. He stood up and "spoke in a commanding voice: 'Since the radio station has become our mind, heart and mouth we must help it with all means – mind, money and labor – till it speaks our voice. However, I do not have money to give to the station. But I have an idea which can be useful for generating income for the station. Let every household set aside a handful of rice from the daily consumption and give it to the station.'"

The CRM board determined that listeners clubs, known as Radio Sangi Smuha, as well as others, should make the suggestion into a reality. As a result, meetings were held and one listener from every house participated. The participants liked the idea and made a commitment to contribute. According to the article, a number of positive result have occurred: the solution has improved the sustainability of the station for the long term; it has contributed to increasing the listeners sense of ownership, responsibility and decision-making about programming; and the radio clubs have also been able to expand and strengthen their social, cultural and advocacy activities.

According to the article, "Last year CRM honored 75 year old Tuk Lal Khati for his 'long lasting and valuable contribution to the radio station.' He was awarded with a letter of appreciation and a radio set. Because of his million-dollar idea the station is now generating a substantial amount of money regularly."